It was not even three years ago — the Summer of Conference Realignment — that Texas' football program was regarded as the most powerful in America, and would have ranked highly on any list of powerful american things.

The reasons for this were easily grasped, and circular. Texas generated the most money because it was a great program, and it was a great program because it made the most money.

That summer, the college sports world was in orbit around Austin, Texas. Three years later, most of the conditions that created that reality still exist, but Texas has lost friction on the surfaces that matter most.

Texas high schools.

LonghornDigest.com, of the Scout.com network, took a survey of Texas high school football coaches to get a feel for which of the state's schools were most popular with current players.

Turned out, UT was No. 3, behind Texas A&M and Baylor.

I don't think it is too hyperbolic to say that Texas slipping behind Baylor in popularity is an unimaginable turn of events. Or it was, until it happened.

It underscores something about sports that has been true from the very first footrace to the cave to LeBron James' legacy — the only thing that ever really matters in sports is wins and losses. Since 2011, Texas A&M has won the Heisman, Baylor has won the Big 12, and Texas hasn't won much of anything.

Now that I've gone into hysterical overreaction on this, let's pull back a little. Texas isn't about to become Iowa State. Texas still has facilities and resources and branding and national championships and Heisman trophies.

"They could come back right now and take over A&M if they want to," one coach told Longhorn Digest. "That's how powerful they are. They can do anything they want. They are the Texas freaking Longhorns. But A&M is on top right now."